DictionaryAI

outside

OWT-syd/ˈaʊt.saɪd/owt-SYD/aʊtˈsaɪd/

Noun pluraloutsides

23 meanings of outside

Practice

  1. 1
    near (a building)preposition
    Not inside a place or thing, but on or to its outer side, often near it.

    She waited outside the store for her friend.

    There's a welcome mat outside the front door.

    UsageUse it for where something is: outside the door. For leaving a place, say out of: go out of the room.

    Oppositeinside

  2. 2
    not withinpreposition
    Past the edge or limits of something.

    Fixing the roof is outside the work we agreed to do.

    The new store sits just outside the county line.

    UsageOften in outside my control or outside our area.

    Similarbeyond

    Oppositewithin

  3. 3
    in the open airadverb
    Out of a building, in or into the open air.

    The kids are playing outside in the yard.

    Let's eat outside tonight since the weather is nice.

    UsageSay go outside (not incorrect: go to outside) and play outside.

  4. 4
    adjective
    Coming from somewhere else, or from people who are not part of a group.

    The room was well protected from outside noise.

    No outside air could get into the sealed chamber.

    UsagePut it before a noun: outside help, outside noise.

    Similarexternal

  5. 5
    exteriornouncountable
    The outer surface or part of a thing, the side that faces out.

    Like the shell of an egg: the part you see and touch first.

    The outside of the box was covered in stickers.

    She painted the outside of the house a soft blue.

    UsageUsually the outside of a thing: the outside of the box.

    Similarexterior, surface, shell

    Oppositeinside, interior

    Note
  6. 6
    preposition
    Other than something, or not counting it.

    Outside a few small mistakes, the project went well.

    There was nothing in the fridge outside milk and eggs.

    UsageOften outside of: outside of a few mistakes.

    Similarbesides, except, beyond

  7. 7
    adjective
    On or near the outer part or edge of something, or outdoors, rather than in the middle or inside.

    The children in the outside circle held hands around the little kids in the middle.

    The outside edge of the field was still muddy.

  8. 8
    exteriornounsingular
    The area past the edge or border of a place.

    The fence keeps the sheep on the inside and the wolves on the outside.

    A thin wall was all that separated the inside from the outside.

    UsageOften in from the outside or on the outside.

    Oppositeinside

    Note
  9. 9
    appearancenouncountable
    The way someone or something looks on the surface.

    Like the cover of a book: what you see before you open it.

    On the outside he seemed calm, but inside he was nervous.

    People often see only her quiet outside, not how funny she can be.

    UsageOften in on the outside: calm on the outside, scared inside.

    Similarexterior, facade, appearance, front, veneer

    Oppositeinside

  10. 10
    adjective
    Done or happening apart from a particular group, job, or organization.

    She has many outside interests beyond her job.

    He took an outside job to earn some extra money.

    Similarprivate

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of outside apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From out plus side.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact